“That was a little strong right there,” Spurrier said. “Obviously, Jadeveon is probably the best defensive lineman in college football. I think everyone agrees with that. But when you start putting linemen in there with quarterbacks, receivers and running backs, I don’t know what he’s trying to say. If he’s trying to fatten up Jadeveon’s thinking, I hope it doesn’t work.

“Jadeveon has had a lot of praise, a lot of attention the entire offseason. I think he’s handled it pretty well. He tries to stay out of the limelight. He doesn’t go to the clubs. He’s not out in public much, except when he has to go to class and so forth. I think he’s handled it well.”

Clowney is already slated to become a top-five NFL draft pick once he completes his junior season at South Carolina. Richt and the Bulldogs face the division-rival Gamecocks in Athens on Sept. 7, so the Georgia coach's compliment might have been little more than a plot to temper expectations.